Oral Health Knowledge and Self-Reported Practices among a Sample of University Students in Jordan

2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-75
Author(s):  
Saleh S. El-Qaderi

This cross-sectional survey gathered data on dental health knowledge from 21- to 23-year-old university students in Jordan, including self-reported dental health behaviors and factors affecting regular dental attendance. A representative random sample of 806 students in their final academic year was surveyed. A self-administered questionnaire resulted in a 93.2% response rate. The majority (51.8%) were able to correctly identify the definition of dental plaque and were aware of the periodontal diseases which could be prevented by brushing and flossing. Nonetheless, there are more participants who incorrectly believed that fluoride in toothpaste cleans and whitens teeth (78% and 65%, respectively), and only 7% recognized that fluoride can heal initial cavities. Female students have a significantly higher level of oral health knowledge than their male counterparts ( p < 0.001). Tooth brushing at least once and twice a day was claimed by 57.8% and 14.1% respectively. Only 10.4% spend more than two minutes for tooth brushing which is performed before going to bed by 56.2% of the study population. Thirty-three percent of male students and 36% of female students went to the dental clinic at some time during the last year and were more likely to receive dental extraction (41.1%) or dental filling (32.2%) at their last visit to the dentist. The mass media (TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines) were found to be the number one source of dental health information while formal academic courses and extracurricular activities at the university came at the bottom of the list of the six potential sources for health awareness information. Appropriate recommendations aimed at raising the oral health awareness and increasing the demand for dental health services among university students are suggested.

Author(s):  
Prakash Poudel ◽  
Rhonda Griffiths ◽  
Amit Arora ◽  
Vincent W. Wong ◽  
Jeff R. Flack ◽  
...  

This study assessed self-reported oral health status, knowledge, and behaviours of people living with diabetes along with barriers and facilitators in accessing dental care. A cross sectional survey of 260 patients from four public diabetes clinics in Sydney, Australia was undertaken using a 35-item questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS software with descriptive and logistic regression analyses. More than half (53.1%) of respondents reported having dental problems which negatively impacted their related quality of life. Less than half (45%) had adequate oral health knowledge. Only 10.8% reported receiving any oral health information in diabetes care settings, which had higher odds of demonstrating adequate oral health knowledge (AOR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.06–6.34). Similarly, 62.7% reported seeing a dentist in the last 12 months. Having private health insurance (AOR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.85–7.40) had higher odds of seeing a dentist in the past 12 months. Dental costs were a major contributor to avoiding or delaying dental visit. Patients living with diabetes have unmet oral health needs particularly around the awareness of its importance and access to affordable dental services. Diabetes care providers can play a crucial role in this area by promoting oral health to their patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 261-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philcy Philip ◽  
Amy Villarosa ◽  
Anitha Gopinath ◽  
Carolin Elizabeth ◽  
Gift Norman ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bader K. Al-Zarea

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate levels of oral health knowledge of periodontal disease among nondental university students.Materials and Methods. Two hundred and fifty university students (mean age 20.1 years ± 2.5) were recruited into this study. The participants completed a structured questionnaire during a personal interview. The questionnaire consisted of items to assess participants’ personal data (age, gender, level of study, and specialty) and oral heath knowledge related to periodontal disease. Statistical significance was based on probability values of less than 0.05.Results. Participants showed poor knowledge of causes, signs, symptoms, and preventive measures of gum disease. The level of study had no relationship with students’ knowledge of the initiating factors of periodontal disease (P<0.05), but had a significant relationship with the knowledge of periodontal disease’s signs, preventive measures, and relations to general health and systemic disease (P<0.05). Students from scientific disciplines had more knowledge of periodontal disease’s causes, preventive measures, and relations to general health and systemic disease (P<0.05) than those from humanity disciplines.Conclusions. There were significant differences in oral health knowledge regarding periodontal disease between students from different levels of studies and different disciplines.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-90
Author(s):  
Rini Jusy Fitriana ◽  
Siti Salamah

Dental and oral health problems are quite high (> 35%), namely South Kalimantan. One of the health professionals who can improve dental and oral health knowledge is usually done by counseling. The method used is a didactic method only active educators and the socratic method of educators and students being active and creative. This study aims to determine the differences in counseling of fairy tales methods and monopoly games on knowledge of tooth brushing in the 9-10 year age group in SDN 1 Palam Banjarbaru. This type of research is analytical. This research design is quasi-experimental. This study was a pretest-posttest design. The number of samples is 71 respondents using total sampling or saturated sampling techniques. The results of this study indicate that the use of fairy tale methods and monopoly game methods can both increase the knowledge of brushing teeth, but the average extension knowledge using the monopoly game method is higher than the fairy tale method, it can be seen from the magnitude of the average knowledge of brushing before counseling ( 10.25), after counseling (12.33) and the average difference (2.08) using the monopoly game method. Compared to the average value of tooth brushing knowledge before counseling (10.26), after counseling (11.49) and the average difference (1.23) using a fairy tale method.The conclusion is that there are differences in the extension of fairy tale methods and the monopoly game method of knowledge of brushing teeth in the 9-10 year age group at SDN 1 Palam Banjarbaru.    


1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil Al Beiruti

Dental caries and periodontal diseases are influenced by the person’s way of life. Oral health knowledge and practice may affect their prevalence or slow down the rate at which they progress. A total of 210 teachers, physicians and nurses participated in this study through a questionnaire designed to determine the level of their oral health knowledge and home practice. The results showed that this educated group of the population should have better oral health knowledge and behaviour


2021 ◽  
pp. 26-32
Author(s):  
Hala Zakaria ◽  
Hina Nasreen ◽  
Ehab Basssam

Objectives: Good oral heath not only promotes an individual to look and feel good, it also helps in preserving oral functions. The study was carried out to assess oral health knowledge and practices, attitudes as well as their oral hygiene habits among university students in the UAE. Method: A structured and revised questionnaire was distributed to 300 university students that were randomly sampled from the selected universities of the UAE. The questionnaires were answered anonymously by the students and paper consisted of questions to study and assess the prevalence of oral diseases amongst these students. The answers were then subjected to statistical analysis to determine if there is a significant correlation between oral health knowledge and attitude. Results: Data showed a positive correlation with a Pearson coefficient value of 0.4 given at a positive gradient when plotted as a linear graph. The students had good knowledge on the basic oral health measures but still students had poor oral health practices they brush their teeth once daily and brushed for less than the optimal time of two minutes. Lack of time and cost were reported to be the most common causes that prevented visiting the dental clinic. While some students reported no importance to visit the dentist if there is any pain as the second most common reason. Conclusion: Students had good knowledge on the basic oral health measures but efforts towards spreading proper dental education is very important to minimize and prevent the escalation of oral diseases that may develop due to lack of correct dental knowledge. Oral health education programs should be conducted with reinforcement to close the gap between knowledge and practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1152-1157
Author(s):  
M. A. Abdulsalam ◽  
N A Alsewaiq ◽  
S. A. Hamza ◽  
A.U. Y. Syed ◽  
M. A. Ahmed ◽  
...  

Aim: To assess dental caries knowledge, DMFT status and oral hygiene practices among Science and Non-science University students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted through a questionnaire that contained sociodemographic information, questions about oral health knowledge (OHK) assessed on Likert scale (strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree). Questions about dental caries, teeth extracted due to caries, and filled teeth while the fourth section questions were about oral hygiene practices (OHP). Data were processed using SPSS (version 21) with significance level of p≤0.050. Results: Four hundred (400) students participated in current study in which 190 students were from science (medicine and pharmacy) and 210 from non-science (education and arts) colleges. Male and female ratio were 185(46.3%) and 215(53.8%) respectively. Overall, oral health knowledge status was demonstrated as non-significant by both science and non-science students except for question regarding transmission of dental caries. A significant difference was observed between gender (p=0.016) for all questions except question 2 (bacteria is the cause of tooth decay). In addition, a significant difference were observed between urban and rural students (p=0.037) for question 2. No significant difference were observed for decayed, extracted teeth and oral hygiene practices between science and non-science students.. Conclusion: Statistically no significant difference in status of knowledge, decayed and missing teeth and oral hygiene practices was observed between science and non-science students, except for filled teeth. However differences among genders and urban/rural was noted. Keywords: Dental caries, Oral health practice, Science, Non-science, University students


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lea Ladegaard Grønkjær ◽  
Natasja Nielsen ◽  
Marie Nielsen ◽  
Camilla Smedegaard

Background and objective: Nursing students play an important role in oral health promotion, after they graduate and start working within the health care system. The aim of this study was to determine the oral health behaviour, knowledge, and attitude among Danish senior nursing students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among students at the Education of Nurses, VIA University College, Aarhus, Denmark, using an electronic questionnaire consisting of 22 questions regarding oral health behaviour, knowledge, and attitude.Results: One hundred students completed the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 79%. A majority of the students brushed their teeth twice daily (89%), visited the dentist at least once a year (55%), and described their teeth and gingiva as extremely good or very good (80%). The students had good oral health knowledge regarding plaque and dental caries. However, the knowledge about periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis was insufficient. Nearly all students stated that oral health is an important part of nursing care (97%) and important for the general health (87%). Over half of the students (64%) thought that oral health training should be updated and expanded in the nursing education.Conclusions: The participating students had good oral care behaviour. In some areas, the students had adequate oral health knowledge, while the knowledge about especially periodontal disease was insufficient. The majority of the students had a positive attitude toward oral health and wanted oral health training to be prioritised in the nursing education.


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